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Prolonged higher dose methylprednisolone vs. conventional dexamethasone in COVID-19 pneumonia: a randomised controlled trial (MEDEAS)

Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Background Dysregulated systemic inflammation is the primary driver of mortality in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. Current guidelines favour a 7-10-day course of any glucocorticoid equivalent to dexamethasone 6 mg daily. A comparative randomised controlled trial (RCT) with a higher dose and a longer duration of intervention was lacking. Methods We conducted a multicentre, open-label RCT to investigate methylprednisolone 80 mg as a continuous daily infusion for 8 days followed by slow tapering versus dexamethasone 6 mg once daily for up to 10 days in adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring oxygen or noninvasive respiratory support. The primary outcome was reduction in 28-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were mechanical ventilation-free days at 28 days, need for intensive care unit (ICU) referral, length of hospitalisation, need for tracheostomy, and changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, arterial oxygen tension/inspiratory oxygen fraction (PaO2/FIO2) ratio and World Health Organization Clinical Progression Scale at days 3, 7 and 14. Results 677 randomised patients were included. Findings are reported as methylprednisolone (n=337) versus dexamethasone (n=340). By day 28, there were no significant differences in mortality (35 (10.4%) versus 41 (12.1%); p=0.49) nor in median mechanical ventilation-free days (median (interquartile range (IQR)) 23 (14) versus 24 (16) days; p=0.49). ICU referral was necessary in 41 (12.2%) versus 45 (13.2%) (p=0.68) and tracheostomy in 8 (2.4%) versus 9 (2.6%) (p=0.82). Survivors in the methylprednisolone group required a longer median (IQR) hospitalisation (15 (11) versus 14 (11) days; p=0.005) and experienced an improvement in CRP levels, but not in PaO2/FIO2 ratio, at days 7 and 14. There were no differences in disease progression at the prespecified time-points. Conclusion Prolonged, higher dose methylprednisolone did not reduce mortality at 28 days compared with conventional dexamethasone in COVID

Details

Database :
OAIster
Notes :
Salton, F, Confalonieri, P, Centanni, S, Mondoni, M, Petrosillo, N, Bonfanti, P, Lapadula, G, Lacedonia, D, Voza, A, Carpene, N, Montico, M, Reccardini, N, Meduri, G, Ruaro, B, Confalonieri, M, Citton, G, Bozzi, C, Tavano, S, Pozzan, R, Andrisano, A, Jaber, M, Mari, M, Trotta, L, Mondini, L, Barbieri, M, Ruggero, L, Antonaglia, C, Soave, S, Torregiani, C, Bogatec, T, Baccelli, A, Nalesso, G, Re, B, Pavesi, S, Barbaro, M, Giuliani, A, Ravaglia, C, Poletti, V, Scala, R, Guidelli, L, Golfi, N, Vianello, A, Achille, A, Lucernoni, P, Gaccione, A, Romagnoli, M, Fraccaro, A, Malacchini, N, Malerba, M, Ragnoli, B, Zamparelli, A, Bocchino, M, Blasi, F, Spotti, M, Miele, C, Piedepalumbo, F, Barone, I, Baglioni, S, Dodaj, M, Franco, C, Andrani, F, Mangia, A, Mancini, A, Carrozzi, L, Rafanelli, A, Casto, E, Rogliani, P, Ora, J, Carpagnano, G, Di Lecce, V, Tamburrini, M, Papi, A, Contoli, M, Luzzati, R, Zatta, M, Di Bella, S, Caraffa, E, Francisci, D, Tosti, A, Pallotto, C, De Rosa, F, Pecori, A, Franceschini, M, Carlin, M, Orsini, V, Pollastri, E, Rugova, A, Sabbatini, F, Soria, A, Rossi, M, Santantonio, T, Meli, R, Sauro, S, Fedeli, C, Mangini, E, Biolo, G, Nunnari, A, Pietrangelo, A, Corradini, E, Bocchi, D, Boarini, C, Zucchetto, A, Lanini, S, Salton F., Confalonieri P., Centanni S., Mondoni M., Petrosillo N., Bonfanti P., Lapadula G., Lacedonia D., Voza A., Carpene N., Montico M., Reccardini N., Meduri G. U., Ruaro B., Confalonieri M., Citton G. M., Bozzi C., Tavano S., Pozzan R., Andrisano A. G., Jaber M., Mari M., Trotta L., Mondini L., Barbieri M., Ruggero L., Antonaglia C., Soave S., Torregiani C., Bogatec T., Baccelli A., Nalesso G., Re B., Pavesi S., Barbaro M. P. F., Giuliani A., Ravaglia C., Poletti V., Scala R., Guidelli L., Golfi N., Vianello A., Achille A., Lucernoni P., Gaccione A. T., Romagnoli M., Fraccaro A., Malacchini N., Malerba M., Ragnoli B., Zamparelli A. S., Bocchino M., Blasi F., Spotti M., Miele C., Piedepalumbo F., Barone I., Baglioni S., Dodaj M., Franco C., Andrani F., Mangia A., Mancini A., Carrozzi L., Rafanelli A., Casto E., Rogliani P., Ora J., Carpagnano G. E., Di Lecce V., Tamburrini M., Papi A., Contoli M., Luzzati R., Zatta M., Di Bella S., Caraffa E., Francisci D., Tosti A., Pallotto C., De Rosa F. G., Pecori A., Franceschini M., Carlin M., Orsini V., Pollastri E., Rugova A., Sabbatini F., Soria A., Rossi M., Santantonio T., Meli R., Sauro S., Fedeli C., Mangini E., Biolo G., Nunnari A., Pietrangelo A., Corradini E., Bocchi D., Boarini C., Zucchetto A., Lanini S.
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1354534899
Document Type :
Electronic Resource